She’ll explore the role of belonging in community. What is responsibility of the community? What is responsibility of individual? And what are some actions that can be taken by both to cultivate a greater sense of belonging for all?
Networking
Session 1
Stories from BIPOC Cohousers
Helena Cragg, Joi Faison, Rosemary Linares and Alicia Wilson-Ahlstrom will share their experiences of cohousing as women of color. Moderator, Crystal Bryd Farmer, will guide the conversation and take your questions. Bring your curiosity, you might just hear something that surprises you.
Yana Ludwig
Class, Culture and Community
We will take a brief look at how class and classism affect our attempts to create functional communities. Class differences and tensions are present in almost every community project, and when unaddressed, this creates a number of barriers for getting the culture we want, and to one of the most common community goals: affordability. Yana will offer some tips and exercises for getting into a productive conversation about class.
Joe Cole
What’s in a Name?
How a shift in values from diversity to racial equity guided a community name change process, while revealing that we still have a long way to go to overcome racism in ourselves and in our mostly white community. We’ll talk strategies for expanding racial awareness, addressing racism and white privilege, and building resilience for the path ahead.
Fresh “Lev” White
Beauty and Diversity
Invoking and acknowledging the importance of the beauty and diversity in nature we’ll reflect on ‘us’ as a product of its brilliance. Looking at ways our culture is richer because of the diversity of people who contribute to it, we’ll learn to welcome our similarities, and honor are differences as opportunities for growth.
Session 2
Crystal Byrd Farmer
Lessons From The Token
How do you build a diverse cohousing community? What do people from marginalized groups (different races, disability status, sexuality, and more) experience in community, and how do we change our words, actions, and policies so they feel more welcome? This workshop is based on the book The Token: Common Sense Ideas for Increasing Diversity in Your Organization coming out in October 2020.
Moderator: Grace Kim
Panel: Emma Sutton, Kathy Sayers
Embracing Income Diversity in Urban Cohousing
For some, buying a home in cohousing is a real-estate transaction. They weigh the “value” of the home relative to price, square footage, neighborhood comps, and resale value. Three urban communities (one completed, one starting construction, and one forming) share their experiences of who shows up you prioritize community and diversity, over selling homes. Our session will pose a series of questions around embracing income diversity in cohousing to panelists from each of the three communities. There will also be time set aside at the end of the panel for audience questions.
Daisy K. Birch
Allyship as a Core of Community Transformation
Anyone can aspire to, and become an ally; through consistent self-inquiry, research, egoless listening, and selfless service. Yet, allyship cannot be self-proclaimed. We’ll cover what allyship is, and isn’t; the do’s and don’ts, the A-Z’s, and why it’s an imperative part of any individual’s, community’s, and country’s enlightenment and healing.
For individuals who desire a greater understanding of why LGBTQI elders may desire a co-housing community dedicated to providing an authentic experience of safety and freedom to express oneself in relationship and identity. Currently, 31 states do not provide protection in employment and housing for LGBTQI people. Even people who support LGBTQI rights often unknowingly marginalize people who are not heterosexual through policies, marketing and language. A look at inherent societal heterosexual bias will cover why LGBTQI elders feel social isolation to a greater extent than their heterosexual peers, why they fear getting older and how an intentional co-housing community for 55 + LGBTQI people and allies is making a difference in their lives.
Session 3
Tovah Melaver and Catherine Shiel
Addresssing Race and Privilege in Community
This workshop focuses on anti-racism work white folks can do in cohousing community and is open to everyone. We will share some of the struggles we’ve had in our own community and how we’ve addressed them. There will be time to share other communities’ experiences and time to brainstorm strategies together.
Moderator: Grace Kim
Panel: Deseree Kameka Galloway, Alicia DeLashmutt, Deb Finck, Marta Carlucci
Redefining our Comfort Zone: How to embrace people of ALL abilities in an intentionally diverse and inclusive community
Most cohousing communities value inclusion and diversity yet are uncertain of how to accomplish this within their community. And often don’t understand how welcoming people with diverse abilities, incomes, and backgrounds can positively impact their community. Join us in a candid conversation where we will discuss the benefits, challenges and misconceptions of what it means to live in an intentionally diverse and inclusive community. This will be a panel discussion with founders of cohousing communities that will be inclusive to households of all abilities. These founders have family members with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.
Ty Albright, a Cohousing USA Board Member and Texan – will share guidance on how to integrate into and best get along with “non-liberal big city” people. This would include most of Texas – and much of the mid-west “fly over” country. Do you want a bubba Trump Supporter as a neighbor? Maybe an opportunity has you moving to Trump Land and you don’t speak the language.
Annie Russell & Ellie Wilkins
The presenters will share their different experiences, one living in a multigenerational community, the other having lived both in a multigenerational and a senior community. Session about living within not just a variety of ages, but also life stages. They’ll share their experience of what needs can be filled and what challenges can arise.
